The focus this Sunday is on the Gospel of Luke 18:10-14, where two men went to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee who was a very decent and righteous man of religion, the other a publican who was a truly sinful tax-collector who was cheating the people.

Though the pharisee was genuinely righteous, he boasted before God and was condemned. The publican, although he was truly sinful, he begged for mercy, received it, and was justified by God.

On this Sunday in the preparation for Great Lent, Orthodox Christians are to see that they have neither the religious piety of the pharisee nor the repentance of the publican. They are called to think about themselves, in the light of Christ's teaching, as they really are and to beg for mercy. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.